Campo-bello or Campbell Turgot Prior of Durham and B. of St. Andrews wrote the Lives of King Malcolm Canmoir and of his Queen Margaret Liber Sconae a Chronicle written by the Monks of Scoone Liber Pasletensis The Black Book of Paislay a Chronicle written by the Monks of Paislay Liber Pluscartensis a Chronicle written by the Monks of Pluscardy One Blind Henry wrote the History of Sir William Wallace in Scottish Meeter John Barbour Archdeacon of Aberdeen did write the Life of King Robert Bruce in Scottish Meeter John Major Provost of St. Salvator's Colledge in St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation William Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth or Boyes Principal of the King's Colledge of Aberdeen wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the First continued till the Reign of King James the Sixth by John Ferrerius a Piemontoise a Monk of Pluscardy John Balenden Archdeacon of Murray did translate Boyes History into English George Buchanan Praeceptor to King James the Sixth wrote the History of the Nation till the year 1572. Robert Johnstone wrote a Continuation of the Scottish History from the year 1572. till the year 1624. in Latine Folio John Leslie Bishop of Ross wrote the History of the Nation till the year 138 Raphael Holinshed wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the Sixth continued by Francis Thin Will. Cambden wrote a Description of the Kingdom John Dempster wrote an Introduction to the Scottish History David Chalmer wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Saints David Hume of Godscroft did write the History of the Earls of Douglass and Angus William Drummond of Hawthornden did write the Lives of the Five King James's William Sanderson wrote the Lives of Queen Mary King James the Sixth and King Charles the First John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews did write the History of the Church of Scotland from the first Plantation of the Christian Faith therein till the Death of King James the Sixth The Office of the Chancellor of State conferred upon him by that glorious Martyr King Charles the First he discharged to the satisfaction of his Royal Master and the advantage of the Church He was a person of rare Ornaments and in all things compleatly qualified for his Imployment yet he did not escape the hard measure which other Loyal Subjects tasted of for by the Covenanters he was forced to retire into England where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth He ended his daies in a good old Age and was honourably Interred in Westminster Abby Anno 1639. after he had governed the See twenty four years George Wishart Dr. of Divinity and Bishop of Edinburgh did write the Actions of James Marquess of Montross Robert Gordon of Stralogh did write the Theatrum Scotiae being a description of the whole Kingdom with the Maps of every particular Country Printed by Janson Bleaw at Amsterdam a very excellent work The mercenary Printer did him a double injury first in printing with his Book Buchanan's Seditious Pamphlet De Jure Regni apud Scotos it being sufficiently known that the Author was of no such principle but alwaies Loyal Then in dedicating that work to the Usurper O. Cromwell whereas the Author sent over to the Printer a Dedication of his Book to His most Sacred Majesty at that time Prince of Wales and the Copy of that Dedication written with his own hand is yet in the Custody of his Son the Reverend James Gordon Parson of Rothimay This much was necessary to be said in vindication of that worthy Gentleman who was one of the most Learned persons of the Age he lived in If any think that this Treatise hath not swelled to that bulk that might be expected from an undertaking of this nature having so large a Subject to treat of let this suffice for an Answer that the several calamities that have happened in this Antient Kingdom may justly serve for an Apology when it is to be considered that after the Death of Alexander the Third of that Name King of Scotland and all his Sons which in one years space died of a pestilent Fever which was never before known in this Kingdom his Daughter being Queen of Norway died in the same year who left behind her a Daughter whom after the Death of the King and his Sons the Estates sent for to this effect Two Ambassadors were dispatcht to Norway to take care of the safe conveyance of this Young Lady the only hope the Kingdom relyed on It was not long after these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing News that this Lady was dead likewise Consider what fears and sorrows at the hearing of these News did perplex the Subjects of this Kingdom So many deaths falling out in the Royal Family did presage great calamities to ensue For as the Loss of so worthy a King was great so their Fears was no less because of the uncertainty of the Succession Many Competitors six they were in number claiming the Inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship It must needs be supposed that they did divide the Realm and so beget a Civil War yet these who were trusted with the management of Affairs during the Inter Reign did by their Mediation work them to a Compromise and to remit the decision of the Controversie to King Edward the First of England a Prince of long Experience and much respected in that time For this purpose divers Gentlemen were sent to King Edward who at that time was in France to inform him of the inconveniencies that were feared to fall out in the Kingdom of Scotland and the course they had taken to prevent the same intreating his help for quieting the State King Edward glad to have an hand in the making of a King in Scotland dimitted them with many kind expressions of his kindness to the Kingdom assigning a Dyet for the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed at which Dyet the King was present at this meeting there was no decision all the Competitors except two to wit John Baliol and Robert Bruce were ordered to cease from their claim Of Baliol and Bruce an Oath was taken that they should abide and stand by the Sentence the King should pronounce The like Oath was taken by the Prelates Nobles and other Commissioners who swore to accept of him for their King that would be tryed to have the best Right and for the greater assurance all their Seals were appended to the Compromise Five years and some more were spent before the Controversie was brought to an end At last K. Edw. returned to Berwick and calling the Twenty Four to whom the important Affairs were committed they were shut up in the Church there to debate the Matter none being permitted to have access unto them he himself now and then went in to know how their proceedings went and perceiving the greater part
in the fatal Marble â—hair the Year from the Creation of the World 3641. before the Coming of Christ 330. the first year of the 112 Olympiad in the year 421. after the Building of Rome about the beginning of the fourth Monarchy when Alexander the Great vanquished Darius the last Monarch of Persia in the Reign of King Chimarus King of Brittans Some conjecture that Scotland had its name from Scoti or Scitty or Scythy from a People of Germany over whose Northern Limits the name of Scythia did extend of the truth of this there is no manner of ground in History â—lim Edinburgh is scituated between the degrees of Latitude 56 d. 2 m. of Longitude 3 d. 0 m. from London West longest day 17 hours 27 minutes Aberdeen 57 d. 10 m. of Latitude 2 d. 20 m. Longitude the most Northerly part of Scotland is Dunsby head whose Latitude is 58 d. 5 minutes The longest day in the most Northern part in this place is 18 h. 8 m. Dimensions It is in length about 480 miles it is of a much disproportionable breadth there being no place 60 miles distant from the Sea Division The Country is divided according to the Inhabitants into High-land and Low-land The People of the former live upon the Western Coast of Scotland or in some out Islands being a hardy People much inclinable to War who are in a continual readiness whenever commanded by their Chief as they love to call the most eminent Persons of their name or Clanne Their weapons are commonly Bow and Arrows a people that can endure all the hardships of War being bred to all manner of cunning in relation thereunto not much trusted by the Low-landers Their Chiefs have a great Authority over them they pay little or no Rent for the Lands they hold being obliged when their Chief calls them to be upon all occasions at his service It was the custom when any of the Chiefs of these Clanns came to Edinburgh they were attended with a numerous Train of these their Vassals which appearing mutinous was forbidden by an Act of Council These Gentlemen being allow'd to have the Attendants of their Menial Servants only They espouse the quarrel of their Master being much given to revenge and it is observable that for some generations the private quarrels of one Family against another hath been pursued with such vigour even almost to the ruine of both Parties The names of these Clanns are M ck Donald M ck Naughtoune M ck Cleane c. which reckon their Families to be of a very old standing in the Kingdom by several Generals some of seven hundred years and upwards and others more The Low-landers bordering on the East have much of the disposition and civility of other Countries their Language like the English and in their Habit according to the Fashions from France Again Scotland according to the Scituation of its Parts or Provinces may be divided into two parts To witt Southwards of the River Tay which made the Antient Kingdom of the Picts and Eastwards and Northwards of the River Tay which made the Antient Kingdom of the Scots besides abundance of little Islands lying round about According to its Ecclesiastical Government it is divided into two Provinces viz. St. Andrews and Glascow these two Provinces into several Diocesses It was long after the Christian Religion was received in Scotland that the Ecclesiastical Government was thus divided For more full satisfaction of the Affairs of the Church the inquisitive Reader may consult the most Reverend Archbishop Spotiswood in his History of the Church of Scotland The Christian Religion in the Year of our Lord 203. which was the fourth year of Donald the first was publickly established the King with his Queen and many of the Nobility being then baptized several years before this publick manifestation many people were converted to the Christian Faith Tertullian who liv'd some years before the Coronation of this King speaking of the Propagations of the Gospel throughout the whole World doth reckon among other Countries the Parts of Britanny unto which the Romans could not find access And what these Parts were are no doubt that little corner of the Island which the Scots did inhabit all the Inland of Britanny being subject to the Romans There be Authors of no small credit who transmit to posterity that St. Paul after his Imprisonment at Rome did visit this Island and did Preach the Gospel in the utmost parts thereof Nicephorus writeth that Simon Zelotes after he had travelled through Egypt Cyrene Africk Mauritania and Lybia came at last ad occidentalem oceanum insulasque Britannicas and there Preached the Gospel Dorotheus addeth that he was Crucified in these parts Others write as if Pope Victor did send Preachers as first promulgers of the Gospel but this is not very probable being this Church was not fashioned like to that of Rome in its rites especially in the observation of Easter These foregoing opinions are not grounded upon the surest testimonies of History the writers of most credit give place to this conjecture That when the Apostle St. John was banish'd into the Isle Pathmos some of his Disciples took their refuge hither and were the first Preachers of the Gospel The more sober are inclinable to give credit to this because in that contention moved about Easter the Christians here for some two hundred years after did retain the custom of the Oriental Church maintaining this by the Authority of St. John from whom they pleaded to have received the Faith Others are agreed that not long after the Ascension of our Lord whilest the Apostle St. John yet lived that the Faith of our Lord was known and embraced in this Kingdom Origen saith that they are to be numbred inter primitias among the first Fruits of the Gentiles gathered unto Christ This made Petrus Cluniacensis call the Scots antiquiores Christianos of greater antiquity than many others Air. The Air is mild and temperate The cold in the Winter towards the North is very sharp but there being a great plenty of Wood and other firing the Inhabitants do not suffer much by it The heat in Summer is less scorching than in some parts of the Continent There is no need of Stoves in Winter nor Grottes in Summer Soil The Soil is very wholsome abounding with Springs and Streams there are some Navigable Rivers very convenient for Trade Towards the North it 's Mountainous yet not wanting fruitful Valleys apt for Grain Corn or Wood. Commodities There is plenty every where of Sheep Oxen and Coneys and in the North of fallow Deer great plenty of Hens Ducks Geese Turkeys and Pigeons Partridges Sea-plover Pewits Woodcocks Snipes Plovers Quails Larks and Herons c. with great plenty of Salmon Trouts Carps and Pikes c. a great abundance of Herrings Oysters Cockles Musles Scate Turbots Freshling and Lobsters c. there is not wanting Apples Pears Plums and Cherries It abounds with Wheat Barley Rye Beans Pease and
year they are recited viva voce in the hearing of all The Library was founded by Clement Little one of the Officials or Commissaâ—ies of Edinburgh Anno 1635. since which time it is much encreased both by Donatives from the Citizens as also from the Schollars who are more in number here than in any other Colledge in the Kingdom There is a gift in this Library of one Mrs. Scot to the value of 30 lib. the more esteemed because it is from a worthy Matron and lover of learning a good example to all others of her Sex Principals Anno 1583. Robert Rollock one of the Ministers of the City who was likewise Professor of Divinity for all the principals here are primarii professores Theologiae was the first principal and Rector of the University Anno 1600. Henry Charters Anno 1620. Patrick Sands Anno 1622. Robert Boyd Anno 1625. John Adamson Anno 1653. Robert Leightone who was afterwards preferred to be Bishop of Dumblane Anno 1662. VVilliam Colvil Anno 1675. Andrew Cant. Professors of Divinity Anno 162 Andrew Ramsay Anno 1630. John Sharp Doctor of Divinity Anno 1650. David Dickson Anno 1664. VVilliam Keith D. D. Anno 1675. Lawrence Charters Present Professors Andrew Cant Principal Lawrence Charters Professor of Divinity Alexander Dickson Hebrew Professor Gilbert Macmurdo Andrew Massie Mr. Litherdale Mr. Cockburn Professors of Philosophy Alexander Cuninghame Professor of Humanity Alexander Hendersone keeper of the Library Learned Men and Writers Robert Rollock Principal a Person of great worth and learning he wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and some of the Prophets some Sermons and pieces of Devotion were published by him he was in great esteem with all good men for his learning holiness and moderation Henry Charters Principal a Person of great modesty and humility and well seen in Theological learning Patrick Sands Doctor of Divinity Principal very learned in the Mathematicks John Adamson Principal a man of great learning and of very quick parts Alexander Hendersone Principal of the University and one of the Ministers in the City the greatest Ringleader of the Covenanters and often employed by them in the affairs of Church and State both in Scotland and Engl. He was a Person of great gravity and composedness and of considerable learning That debate between his late Majesty and him at Newcastle 1646. about Church-Government and the occasions he then had of knowing that blessed Martyr wrought much upon him so that he went back to Scotland much changed in his principles and it was believed that if he had lived he would have been very instrumental in the King's Service He died soon after his return from England being the most universally-esteemed man of all that party William Colvil Principal a man of a very moderate temper He was deposed by the Covenanters he never would accept preferment notwithstanding divers Bishopricks were proffered to him He wrote divers pieces which are printed in English and Ethica Christiana in Latine William Keith Doctor and Professor of Divinity a man of great Learning who had diligently studied both the Fathers and School-men and was a great Master of Languages being very well skilled in the Hebrew and Rabinical Learning he was wholly mortified and denied to the world and led a most severe kind of life He died An. 1674. If there be any mistake in the names of the present Professors of any of the Universities it is because they are often soon preferred to some dignity in the Church but mistakes of this nature are pardonable being none are named who have not been in these publick capacities and according to the best information there is but little or no mistake in their names that are now actually in those circumstances above mentioned There is no mention made of the Learned Professors who are yet alive that were somewhat of flattery to celebrate their praises to posterity while they yet remain with us But this in general may be said of them all that they give as gâ—eat proofs of their Learning as any Professors in great Brittain which is demonstrable by the great number of Graduates every year from their Universities who are not inferiour to those of other Nations when their Learning is questioned abroad The Commissioners that have represented our Kings since K. James was setled on the Throne of England were as followeth King James the Sixth John Grahame Earl of Montross Commissioner 1604. George Hume Earl of Dumbar Commissioner 1606. George Keith Earl of Marischal Commissioner 1609. Alexander Seaton Earl of Dumfermlin Commissioner 1612. James Hamilton Marquess of Hamilton Commissioner 1621. King Charles the First James Hamilton Marquess of Hamilton Com. 1638. John Stewart Earl of Traquair Com. 1639. James Grahame Marquess of Montross Governour 1644. King Charles the Second John Middleton Earl of Middleton Com. 1660. John Lesly Duke of Rothes Commissioner 1663. John Maitland Duke of Lauderdail Com. 1669. His Royal Highness James Duke of Albany and York Com. 1681. A Catalogue of the Chancellors of the Kingdom since the year 1198. Collected out of Histories 1198. Will. Malvoisin Bishop of Glasgow 1220. Will. de Bosco B. of Dumblane 1226. Matth. Kinninmouth Bishop of Aberdeen 1239. Will. Babington B. of Glasgow 1247. Abbot of 1248. Rich. Innerkeithing Bishop of Dumblane 1259. Gamelinus B. of St. Andrews 1273. Will. Wishart B. of Glasgow 1280. Will. Frazer B. of St. Andrews 1298. Maurice B. of the Isles 1363. Adam Bishop of Brichen 1380. John Lyon Lord Glammes 1390. Gilbert Grimlaw Bishop of Aberdeen 1409. Will. Lauder B. of Glasgow 1434. John B. of Brichen 1436. Sir Will. Creighton of Creighton 1444. James Bruce B. of Dunkeld 1448 Patrick Lyon Lord Glammes 1453. Will. Sinclare Earl of Orkney 1463. Geo. Shorswood B. of Brichen 1474 John Lang B. of Glasgow 1476. Andr. Stewart Lord Evendail 1484. Will. Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen 1494. Archbald Douglass E. of Angus 1497. George Gordon E. of Huntly 1502. James Stewart Archbishop of St. Andrews 1512. Alex. Stewart Archbishop of St. Andrews 1518. James Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow 1526. Gawin Dumbar Archbishop of Glasgow 1534. William Stewart Bishop of Aberdeen 1539. Cardinal David Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews 1561. George Gordon E. of Huntly 1563. James Douglas E. of Morton 1567. George Gordon E. of Huntly 1570. James Douglas E. of Morton again 1572. Archbald Campbell Earl of Argile 1575. John Lyon Lord Glammes 1578. John Stewart E. of Athol 1579. Coline Campbell E. of Argile 1584. James Stewart E. of Arran 1591. John Maitland L. Thirlstane 1598. John Grahame E. of Montross 1604. Alexander Seatone Earl of Dumfermline 1622. George Hay E. of Kinnoul 1635. John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews 1641. John Campbell E. of Lowdoun 1660. William Cunninghame Earl of Glencairn 1665. John Leslie Duke of Rothes Writers of the Scottish History Cornelius Hibernicus Veremundus a Spaniard Arch-Deacon of St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation from its Original till the Reign of King Malcolm the Third Johannes a